When I first moved to the city, I had a friend that lived in Hoboken. I’d occasionally go out to visit her or would often go out for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities. It’s been years though since I’ve been so when my dad asked if I wanted to go for a day during maternity leave a few months back, I was all in.
It was a beautiful day when we went — one of the first 80+ degree days we had. We started the day at GFG (Greek from Greece), a massive Greek restaurant serving grab-and-go breakfast items, a broader sit down menu and a full range of all your coffee beverages of choice.
We both had pastries and I got a cappuccino. The pastries were fresh and flavorful. Overall, the restaurant had such a non-US vibe to it that I kept thinking I was in Europe. (As someone who misses international travel terribly, this is something I always view as a huge plus!)
We then walked up and down the waterfront. Such a treat to be able to do so on a gorgeous day in the middle of the workweek when both clouds and crowds were at a minimum.
The best thing about visiting Manhattan adjacent is that you get the best view of the city itself. There was only a light cloud layer, with Manhattan clearly visible on the other side of the river.
For lunch, we decided to try Blue Eyes. Located on Sinatra Drive, they appropriately chose a name with a nod to Sinatra. The restaurant features a nice variety of Italian food. I will say, we got off to a bit of a rocky start at the restaurant. Two of the items I tried to order off of their specials of the day were not available. Not the best way to begin a meal!
I decided to skip the daily options and look at the rest of the menu. They also are known for their pizza oven. I ended up deciding to try their Diavola pizza, which was tomato sauce, mozzarella, hot soppresatta and basil. Their pizzas are all intended to be personal pizzas.
The pizza was excellent. I loved the spicy pepperoni and the thin crust made this a perfect meal for one, with just a touch of leftovers to bring home. My dad had a beef ravioli dish off of their specials and he said it was also excellent.
For dessert, we tried one of their ice cream bombs. It was one large one split into four sections served with whipped cream. The outside had a thin slightly crispy chocolate coating and the inside had three layers of ice cream – chocolate, pistachio and strawberry. It was a perfect end to great meal along the water.
Before heading back to our town, we made a stop at the site of Hamilton and Burr’s infamous duel in Weehawken. The spot is tucked back in a neighborhood, with nowhere really obvious to park. Definitely an interesting spot to check out if you’re in the area.
Blue Eyes – 525 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken – 201.683.6861
GFG – 221 River Street, Hoboken – 201.533.1040
Weehawken Deuling Grounds – Memorial Park
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